On Cam | ‘Nerve-racking’ Rescue of Rig Worker by Indian Coast Guard as Cyclone Biparjoy Nears Guj Coast

In a “nervous” night operation, the Indian Coast Guard evacuated 50 personnel from an oil rig located in Oka, Gujarat state, 40 km off the coast of Dwarka, amid strong winds and tsunamis due to the approach of Cyclone Pebarjoy.

A total of 50 miners working on the rig near Okha in Gujarat were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard in an operation that started yesterday but was halted at night due to bad weather. While 26 workers were rescued yesterday, 24 others were rescued today.

“The Indian Northwest Coast Guard has evacuated 50 personnel from the ‘Singapore Key’ oil rig, 40 km seaward from Dwarka, in seven sorties by ICG ALH aircraft and Shoor vessel overnight,” a statement said.

Cyclone Biparjoy live updates

It said the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the vessel braved “extremely rough sea conditions” and inclement weather due to its approach to Pebargui, which is expected to make landfall near the port of Jaco in Kutch district on June 15.

Visuals from the rescue showed the ICG personnel boarding a helicopter in strong winds and poor visibility.

The Coast Guard pressed the MK III, ALH, for rescue operations even as all of its units remained on high alert to provide assistance as required, the statement said.

According to the latest Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, Cyclone Biparjoy is very likely to move north-northeast and cross Saurashtra, Kutch and adjacent Pakistani coasts between Mandvi in ​​Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near the port of Jaco by the evening of June 15. “A severe hurricane storm.”

The intensity of the weather system decreased from a severe cyclonic storm (ESCS) to a highly cyclonic storm (VSCS)

IMD said the wind speed at the time of landing is expected to be in the range of 125-135 km/h, and speeds up to 150 km/h.

Large-scale evacuations of people living near the coast have already begun in Gujarat.